Schengen visa insurance: the €30,000 certificate

Every short-stay Schengen visa application must include proof of travel medical insurance. Consulates reject non-conforming certificates daily — here is the exact specification.

The requirements

Under the EU Visa Code, the policy must cover at least €30,000 of emergency medical expenses and hospitalisation, include repatriation (medical and in case of death), be valid in all Schengen states (not just France), and span the entire stay — for multi-entry visas, insurers issue per-trip or annual multi-trip certificates. The certificate must be nominative, dated, in French or English, from an identifiable insurer. High deductibles can cause rejection at some consulates: zero-deductible products exist for a few euros more.

Buying it right

Dedicated « Schengen insurance » products cost €20-60 per month of stay, issue instant certificates, and — important — refund the premium if the visa is refused (check this clause before paying). For visitors aged 60+, premiums rise and some insurers cap age: compare early. For family visits, the inviting resident in France often buys the policy — legitimate and practical, as they will also face any unpaid hospital bill morally, if not legally.

Beyond the visa stamp

The €30,000 minimum is a legal floor, not a medical reality: an ICU week in Western Europe can exceed it. For elderly parents visiting, serious products with €100,000+ ceilings and direct hospital payment are worth the difference. Pre-existing conditions are excluded by default; some insurers cover their acute complications — the clause that matters most for older visitors. Long-stay visas (students, workers, retirees) follow different rules entirely: consulates then require comprehensive health cover, not travel insurance — see our French health insurance guide.

More expat guides: Insurance in France: the expat’s map · Car insurance in France: the expat mechanics · Home insurance in France: tenant duty, owner wisdom · Health cover in France: sécu + mutuelle, decoded.